Valley City Council assesses road work list

The Spokane Valley City Council took a look at the amended list of proposed road projects for this year’s Transportation Improvement Plan at Tuesday’s meeting.

Some projects were removed due to lack of funding and others were added when the city won grants to complete construction, said senior capital projects engineer Steve Worley. There are a few unfinished projects from 2012 on the list, including the swale project on the west end of Sprague Avenue.

Among the major projects added to the list: resurfacing Argonne Road between Sprague Avenue and Broadway Avenue and resurfacing Sprague between Herald Road and University Road.

Councilman Ben Wick questioned the removal of a sidewalk project on Park Road between Sinto Avenue and Indiana Avenue listed at $49,000. “I was kind of hoping we could do that one,” he said. “There’s an elementary school right there.”

The project failed to win funding through a Safe Routes to School grant, Worley said. Staff intends to keep asking for grants for the project, Worley said. “There will be other opportunities as we move along.”

Public Works Director Eric Guth said the $49,000 did not include construction. The actual total cost of the project will be more than $400,000, he said.

Councilman Arne Woodard questioned where the city stood on the Mansfield Avenue extension project, which will require the acquisition and removal of a duplex. Worley said staff have filed the required environmental paperwork but can’t move forward until that is approved. “Our goal is to get that constructed this year,” he said.

In other business, the council agreed by consensus to hire Bernardo Wills to develop a site plan for a proposed library and expansion of Balfour Park at Sprague and Herald. The city and the Spokane County Library District have purchased the property and will share the cost of having the plan for the site developed. The city’s share will be about $38,000, said Parks and Recreation Director Mike Stone.

The Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort received the February community recognition award from Mayor Tom Towey.

On Tuesday, Director Rick Scott accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The nomination of SCOPE for the award came from Spokane Valley police Chief Rick Van Leuven, Towey said. In his nomination, Van Leuven wrote that SCOPE helps promote public safety and prevent crime. The organization has more than 600 volunteers that worked 85,000 volunteer hours in Spokane County last year; 33,000 of those hours were in Spokane Valley.

“I’m just part of the group here,” Scott said. “I was a volunteer once.”

Scott thanked Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who was in attendance, for his support and thanked the volunteers that packed the council chambers for their hard work. “This is just part of the group here,” he said, gesturing to the crowd. “We have 500 more outside.”

The city is collecting nominations for people, businesses or organizations that have made a positive impact on the city. The mayor picks one winner each month as part of the city’s 10th anniversary celebration.